Test Your Knowledge

Naltrexone was originally developed to treat opioid addiction. It is also sometimes used to rapidly reverse the effects of opioid intoxication or overdose. However, naltrexone may cause symptoms of withdrawal in patients who are currently taking opioid drugs.

Once the patient has undergone detoxification and is no longer experiencing withdrawal symptoms, naltrexone is used to curb the cravings and diminish the effects if the drug is used.

Naltrexone is also frequently used to treat alcohol dependency. Unlike certain other medications used in the treatment of alcoholism, naltrexone does not cause adverse effects if alcohol is consumed during treatment.

Naltrexone has shown some promise in the treatment of several other conditions. Most of these are associated with compulsive behavior. These include compulsive sex, gambling addiction, self-injury and eating disorders. It appears that naltrexone may block the compulsions in much the same way that it blocks opioid or alcohol cravings. When acting on compulsions results in a release of pleasure, naltrexone may also be able to block that feeling. However, studies of the effects of naltrexone on these conditions have been limited and more research is required.

Preliminary research also indicates that the drug may be beneficial in reducing symptoms of Crohn’s disease, a chronic disorder of the digestive tract.